Pretty Good

Excellent but underrated film

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Seagal's second film after his excellent debut NICO: ABOVE THE LAW isn't in the same class as that film – but then it doesn't feature Andrew Davis's assured direction or the same level of realism when it comes to the scripting. Instead, this is more of a by-the-numbers B-movie, similar to dozens of such films that populated '90s era video rental shelves, usually starring the likes of Jeff Speakman and Lorenzo Lamas. However, it's far from a lost cause and I'd define it as one of Seagal's better outings, certainly more enjoyable – and latterly, well-made – than most of the films he's made during the 2000s. Director Bruce Malmuth is a sporadic talent at best, having started out with Stallone thriller NIGHTHAWKS back in 1981 and finished with 1994's Lundgren actioner PENTATHLON, but he has a certain flair for visuals and well-staged martial arts bouts.Even this early on in his career, Seagal's acting is sub-par, and he seems quite wooden – probably on the same level as an actor like Sam Jones or Roddy Piper. He doesn't have the same level of intensity that we saw in NICO: ABOVE THE LAW or OUT FOR JUSTICE, or it may be that he's playing a weak character who we learn nothing about – apart from his coma (check out the amusing false beard). Still, Seagal looks like a thespian when compared to his then-wife Kelly Le Brock, here playing a love interest. Le Brock is absolutely awful, and that's being kind.The film is fairly well placed and contains plentiful action, kicking off with a store robbery and then mixing it up with shoot-outs, the odd car chase, and some hand to hand combat. Seagal breaks a few arms and legs here and there, although the violence isn't dwelt upon as it was in the same year's MARKED FOR DEATH. Still, this is a film with a formula that follows a simple pattern: action-lull-action and so on. William Sadler makes for an effective bad guy, even if he is underutilised, and Frederick Coffin is sympathetic in support as the loyal cop buddy. It's not a great film by any means but those looking for solid if undistinguished thrills won't be disappointed.

Steven Seagal plays Mason Storm, a Los Angeles detective. We start by seeing him on the dock, spying on people. He demonstrates how hard he is by taking on a gang of armed cartoon hoodlums single handed in a shop and defeating them. We do not appear to be invited to think how ridiculous this is. He then goes home to his beautiful wife and perfect children, whom he prays with, before making love to his beautiful wife. Now we have a group of killers who break in and achieve their goal in regard to the beautiful wife, send Seagal into a 7-year coma but are completely given the slip by a six-year old child.The official version is that he is now dead, as that is safer for him (!). The patient is renamed John Doe so as not to draw attention. Seven years later, John Doe suddenly comes out of his coma, as you do. The first thing he sees is beautiful nurse Andy Stewart (Kelly Le Brock). He has grown a fake beard but has not lost any muscle tone. Impressive.LeBrock has a strange accent. I guess that is what comes from being the daughter of a French-Canadian father and an Irish mother, born in New York and raised in London. She is slightly better at acting than Seagal but that isn't saying much.Now the bad men have long memories and return to kill people in the hospital. Well everyone except Seagal and LeBrock, because, even fresh out of a seven-year coma, this pair are too smart for an armed professional killer.So now Seagal sets about his recovery in a beautiful house not acquired on a nurse's salary – she is housesitting. Acupuncture, new age mumbo jumbo set to an irritating soundtrack. I fast forwarded at this point, even through the inevitable Seagal-LeBrock love scene. Purlease… By the time the action starts (over an hour in but it felt longer) we are all too fed up to care. "I'm sorry but I think your contractor's doing a lousy job." He isn't the only one, love.There is no humour in this film, no understanding of how ridiculous it is. Unless you count the unintentional humour of "I'm gonna take you to the bank - the blood bank!" I expected the film to be average, and a bit of a product of its time. But it is far worse than that. It is a real turkey. I wondered if it had ever been nominated for anything. It hasn't, not even a Razzie. Hard to kill? Hard to watch.

There's not a great deal to say about Hard to Kill; it's a passable revenge thriller with obvious flaws, but this shouldn't necessarily put off action film buffs and most certainly not fans of Steven Seagal. Indeed, nobody would seriously expect great acting and plotting in your typical Seagal film: the moviegoers flock to see Seagal kick ass and take names (sometimes quite brutally). Hard to Kill certainly delivers this, with ample bone-breaking action scattered throughout the film. However, films don't usually deserve high ratings based on action alone; Hard to Kill is no different.Why? Well, there are many other flaws, starting with the plot. On a very basic level, the plot just about works; Mason Storm's (Seagal) family was torn asunder by assassins working for a corrupt senator and police lieutenant and he went into a 7-year long coma as a result. Now he wants revenge. Fair enough, I say.However, there are many obvious plot holes: if Storm's would-be killers were led to believe that Storm died 7 years ago, how did they know it was HIM that awoke from a coma? How did Seagal know that Jack Axel killed his wife if he was masked and O'Malley (Coffin) never told him? Would Senators REALLY meet with criminals directly? Why didn't Jack Axel try to shoot Storm in the hospital? The acting was also very much a mixed bag. Seagal is Seagal; in other words, he is unconvincing when doing anything other than talking and fighting despite his solid screen presence. Kelly LeBrock looks good, but that's about it. Coffin is alright playing a role that often doesn't demand much in the way of emotion bar a brief altercation with Hulland (Bloch). Bloch is more or less in the same boat as Coffin regarding his role. However, the other villains are a bit better: Sadler is suitably slimy despite his limited screen time, while Boswell and Richmond are suitably callous and evil. The dialogue was often fairly typical action movie stuff, with some profanity, some hilarious lines ('blood bank') and some of that subtle bravado that Seagal specialises in ('we're gonna win because we have a superior attitude etc.').On the other hand, it was quite watchable. Time rarely dragged. Ultimately, this film is probably worth a view if you're an action buff. I also think that Seagal fans would enjoy this, given that this probably looks heavenly compared to most of his later stuff. It's not like Seagal fans would necessarily expect competent acting or good plotting, anyway. Not from Seagal, at least. However, it's ultimately nothing more than an adequate, standard-issue revenge thriller, so I'd be hard pressed to recommend it to anybody else. 2.5/5 stars

'Hard to Kill' is Predictable, Yet Fun. Eternal Bad-Ass Steven Seagal, like always, delivers a spirited & energetic performance. 'Hard to Kill' Synopsis: Detective Mason Storm, who falls into a coma after being shot during a fire-fight that killed his wife Felicia and son Sonny, reawakens seven years later to find his son alive and seeks vengeance with the coma-ward nurse and his old partner.'Hard to Kill' never tries to be path-breaking, and that is its biggest plus point. It remains true to its premise & offers entertainment. Steven McKay's Screenplay is engaging. Bruce Malmuth's Direction is passable. Cinematography & Editing, are functional. Action-Sequences are excellent.Performance-Wise: Seagal is an Eternal Bad-Ass, and in here, like always, he delivers a spirited & energetic performance. Kelly LeBrock looks amazing & does a credible job. Frederick Coffin is adequate. William Sadler is perfect. Branscombe Richmond lends support.On the whole, 'Hard to Kill' is a winner.